Life at Field Base

With all the volunteers and volunteer managers out at their various projects/treks life becomes much quieter at Field base.  The first few days are very chill - mainly cleaning up!  Then we start planning for Trek food drops, NRM fresh food drop, project site visits (PSVs), etc.  The Alphas have to report in twice a day with an update on their plans, any messages/issues, injuries/illnesses, behavioral issues, etc.  

Below is "Field Base' - bit like a hippy commune.  It is within an agricultural college called CATIE, so we are surrounded by fields containing cattle and crops such as sugar cane. There are many banana/plantain trees but we have not picked any as yet.  Just when we think they are ready either the cows eat them or they get harvested.    CATIE is about 20 minutes walk from the nearest town - Turrialba - which has a good supermarket (MaxiPali), restaurants (Sodas), coffee shops, etc.   This is my "world" for three months although I do get to drive out to make food drops or to visit projects.  

This is "Casablanca" where we sleep 

Porch to rear - breakfast with the cows!

Our toilet/showers - Not!! We have a bathroom inside

My commute to the office

The Office - with the volunteers "Hotel"

Inside the "Hotel"

Porch off the office for lunch, dinner, meetings

The nature around us is fascinating - lots of birds including tucans, geckos, bats, weird insects/bugs. huge cockroaches, toads, and millions of ants.  You have to be careful where you stand to avoid the biting ants - tiny little creatures that pack a punch.  Below are leaf eating ants - these live in incredibly well organized "society".

Leaf cutting ants

And the tree they are attacking

We do drink a lot of great Costa Rica coffee and here is how we make it - with a coffee condom (or sock in polite company!).

Coffee Condom - just add coffee and hot water